1971-1974 AMC Javelin AMX 401

By 1974 the ponycar war was grinding to a
conclusion, and the 1974 AMC Javelin AMX was no exception. Ford had given up the ship in 1973 with the “last” of its
high-performance V-8 Mustangs and Cougars. Both Chevrolet and Pontiac were
scaling back their performance Camaros and Firebirds. Chrysler was preparing to
axe the Barracuda and Challenger. AMC soldiered on with the Javelin AMX in
this, the last year for an AMC ponycar.

Under the hood, the 304 remained the
standard V-8, with the optional 360 and 401 still in the arsenal. The last big
one continued to crank out its rated 255 net horsepower, with the assistance of
a Motorcraft 4300 four-barrel carburetor and dual exhausts. A standard
three-speed and optional four-speed continued as the manual-transmission
choices; Torque Command automatic and Twin-Grip remained other choices.

The ’74 AMX didn’t do well in the
marketplace compared to Camaro, Firebird, and the downsized Mustang II, all of
which saw increased sales. Javelin production, meanwhile, reached a
second-generation high of 27,696 units.

Of that number, 4980, or about 15
percent, were Javelin AMX models. AMC would resurrect the AMX tag, attaching it
to the Hornet, Concord,
and Spirit in subsequent years. But none had the muscle-car mystique that the
Javelin AMX strived for, and certainly none could hold a candle to the classic,
original 1968-70 AMX.